Defense expected in Boxberg "Reichsbürger" trial
In the trial for shots fired at a special task force in Boxberg, Baden, the defense of the accused alleged "Reichsbürger" (10:15 a.m.) will also plead after the public prosecutor's office on Monday. The 56-year-old is accused of shooting at police officers with an automatic rifle in April last year when they tried to confiscate an illegal weapon in his home. One officer was hit in the leg by several bullets. In the shooter's home, investigators found a walk-in weapons cache with rifles, submachine guns, thousands of rounds of ammunition and accessories.
The public prosecutor's office has demanded a life sentence for four counts of attempted murder and requested preventive detention. A date for a verdict against the confessed man has not yet been set.
"Reich citizens" and so-called self-administrators do not recognize the Federal Republic of Germany as a state. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution estimates that the scene has around 23,000 followers - and the trend is rising.
The defense argues that the accused's actions were driven by extremist beliefs related to 'Reichsbürger' ideology, rather than a intent to commit crime or terrorism. The rise of 'Reichsbürger' extremism and its linked processes pose significant challenges to upholding justice and preserving public safety.
Source: www.dpa.com
